Improvement of overlapping hidradenitis suppurativa and ankylosing spondylitis after the introduction of adalimumab.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by occlusion of the follicular pilosebaceous units of the skin. The treatment options are sometimes very limited and unpleasant odor and abundant drainage complicate the disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of seronegative spondyloarthritis with predominantly axial but also peripheral joint involvement.

Clinical features of the SAPHO syndrome and their role in choosing the therapeutic approach: report of four patients and review of the literature.

Although the SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, osteitis) syndrome was defined as a distinct entity more than 20 years ago, its classification within the spectrum of inflammatory rheumatic diseases and the proper therapeutic approach are still a matter of debate. We present four patients diagnosed with the SAPHO syndrome treated and followed-up in our Department, demonstrating the diversity of their clinical courses and their responses to different therapeutic approaches. We also review the clinical, laboratory, and imaging features of the SAPHO syndrome described in the relevant literature.

Eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome induced by excessive L-tryptophan intake from cashew nuts.

Eosinophilia is characterized by more than 0.5 × 10 eosinophils per liter in the full blood count. A wide range of conditions, from asthma to parasitic infections, autoimmune diseases, and certain forms of cancer, have been known to trigger abnormally high amount of eosinophils.

Fever of unknown origin: large vessel vasculitis diagnosed by PET/CT.

PET/CT is starting to play an important role in evaluating fever of unknown origin (FUO), due to its ability to localize and delineate areas of high metabolic activity, such as neoplastic proliferation and inflammation, including vasculitis. We present a case of giant cell arteritis (GCA) in a 72-year-old female patient admitted to our department with a 4-month history of FUO, weight loss and fatigue, without specific symptoms or signs. Laboratory investigations suggested acute phase response, with a pronounced erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high CRP level and microcytic anemia.

Aortic root vasculitis associated with Cogan's syndrome.

Cogan's syndrome is characterized by nonsyphilitic interstitial keratitis and an audiovestibular disorder resembling Meniere disease. We report a patient with progressive congestive heart failure due to massive aortic and mitral insufficiency coupled with aortitis leading to an ascending aortic aneurysm. The patient underwent successful aortic root replacement and mitral valve repair.

Propylthiouracil-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) skin vasculitis: the first case reported in Croatia.

Drug-induced vasculitis is a known side effect of prolonged treatment with several drugs. It is characterized by inflammation and cellular infiltration of small vessels and presence of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). Propylthiouracil and hydralazine (anti-thyroid and antihypertensive drugs) are the drugs most commonly associated with drug-induced vasculitis.

Rare zoonosis (hemotrophic mycoplasma infection) in a newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus patient followed by a Nocardia asteroides pneumonia.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is per se a disease characterized by suppressed immune response and thus susceptibility to various opportunistic infections. We describe the case of a 21-year old woman who developed a rare zoonosis - hemotrophic mycoplasma infection in the initial stage of SLE, complicated with Nocardia asteroides pneumonia afterwards. Nocardia infection coincided with initiation of glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide therapy for SLE.

Subcutaneous sarcoidosis of the face.

Subcutaneous sarcoidosis (previously referred to as Darier-Roussy sarcoidosis) is an unusual and atypical form of sarcoidosis. It is characterized by formation of the noncaseating granulomas in the subcutaneous tissue with no other systemic manifestations present. Sometimes subcutaneous granulomas are the first sign of systemic sarcoidosis.

[The history of systemic lupus erythematosus].

In this review paper the history of systemic lupus erythematosus is presented. History of systemic lupus is summarized in three periods, the classical period of discovering the visible manifestations of the disease, the neoclassical period discovering the concept of systemic disease, and modern times, which provided insight into disease mechanisms and facilitated the formation of objective diagnostic approach.

[Myopathy with rhabdomyolysis as an adverse effect of simultaneous treatment with cerivastatin and gemfibrozil].

Drug-induced myopathy and/or rhabdomyolysis have been reported with use of some statins and fibric acid derivatives. The risk of adverse effects is increased with their concomitant use. We report the case of myopathy with rhabdomyolysis during the concomitant use of cerivastatin and gemfibrozil.

Non-MS autoimmune demyelination.

Connective tissue diseases can be characterised by central nervous system (CNS) involvement, in some patients manifested by demyelination areas in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord, which are difficult to differentiate from multiple sclerosis (MS) and other demyelinating processes, such as transverse myelitis and optic neuritis. Demyelinating process may be the feature of nervous impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus, Behcet's disease (BD), Sjoegren's syndrome (SS), systemic sclerosis (SSc) or very rarely other systemic autoimmune diseases. An acute isolated neurological syndrome, as the most common symptom of MS can sometimes be the only feature or even first manifestation of nervous impairment in connective tissue disease, hence presenting the diagnostic problem.

[Cryptococcal meningitis as a diagnostic problem in a patient with SLE--case report].

Systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE) is a disease with wide range of clinical manifestations, signs and symptoms. Disease outcome depends mostly on the affection of kidneys and central nervous system by the disease. Very important cause of death in patients with SLE is infection.

[Renal lupus].

The nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus is presented.

[Hip in inflammatory rheumatic diseases].

The hip changes in inflammatory rheumatic diseases are presented.

[Rheumatoid arthritis and pregnancy].

The problems of pregnancy in rheumatoid arthritis are presented in this paper.